If you have a bright and naturally inquisitive child, you hear questions every day.
From the moment they begin to speak, children begin asking the kind of questions that have puzzled mankind for millennia.
- Who is God and how do we know that He exists?
- How do I know that God really loves and cares about me?
- Who created the heavens, the earth, and everything around us?
- If God is good, why is there evil in the world?
- What happens to us when we die?
As you know, the list of questions just goes on and on!
There are few things that delight a child more than providing them with the freedom to play detective and pursue the answers to the questions that arouse their curiosity – except, perhaps, the satisfaction they derive from discovering the answers to their burning questions firsthand!
One of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is the gift of empowerment. We can show our kids how to be perpetual students and constant learners by teaching them how to think critically about the world around them and equipping them with the tools, resources and skills they need to find the answers to any question they seek.
Providing our kids with the right tools and teaching them how to use them is particularly important when it comes to their spiritual development.
Foundational questions about mankind, our world, and spiritual matters cannot be understood or answered apart from the Word of God.
Because God does not want us and our children to live in darkness, He has chosen to reveal Himself, along with everything we need to know about life and the world around us, through the Bible.
All Scripture is God-breathedand is useful for teaching,rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
As parents, God entrusts us with the great responsibility and sacred privilege of teaching our children not only about Him, but also how we should live our lives. When our kids have questions about how to handle the daily pressures they face in school, about how they should treat their friends, their classmates, and their parents, about whether something is right or wrong, we have the privilege of coming alongside and counseling them, but we also get to teach them to ask God for wisdom and direct them to the Bible for answers.
Each year, I like to record all of the things that the Lord is teaching me in a fresh Bible and journal. This is a wonderful tradition to model and pass down to kids. It reinforces that the Bible is our infallible guide Book for life!
One verse that I encourage spiritually inquisitive children to highlight in their Bibles is Jeremiah 33:3:
Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Another wonderful verse to share with kids is Philippians 2:14-16a:
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
Now, as tempting as it may be to quote this verse when our kids are quarreling with one another, our greater purpose in sharing this is to encourage them to “hold firmly to the word of life” through every moment and circumstance of their lives!
Why should we teach our kids to trust the Bible? Here are three compelling reasons:
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God’s Word is true.
Once upon a time, it was considered scientific fact that the world was flat and the sun revolved around the earth, but today, those theories have been proven to be untrue. Today, there many things in our world that are debatable, but one thing we can be sure of is that God’s word is true.
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. – John 17:17
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God’s Word is vital to our well-being.
Just as we need food and water to nourish our physical bodies, we need God’s Word to nourish our soul and spirit. God’s Word contains the secret to eternal life and the principles we need to apply to lead a successful life on Earth.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:4
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God’s Word brings clarity to our lives.
There are many times in life where we are faced with situations where the path before us seems unclear – but God’s Word has a way of grounding us and bringing light and clarity to the choices and decisions we face in life.
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. – Psalm 119:130
If you’re looking for a fun and fascinating way to engage your 8 to 12-year old child in Bible Study – to help them dig into the Word and make deeper connections between their life, their faith and the stories they’re reading about in the Bible – why not surprise them with the NIV Investigator’s Holy Bible?
The NIV Investigator’s Holy Bible presents Bible stories as mysteries, introducing Bible characters as “witnesses”, geographical locations as “scenes of the investigation”, and complicated theological concepts and ancient terms as “case breakthroughs”.
By piquing their curiosity, kids can’t wait to delve into each book of the Bible – to ponder the “Evidence” that is presented at the beginning of each book – and to close the “Case” at the end of the book and to learn what the book teaches them about God and themselves!
Reading and studying the Bible has never been more fascinating or fun!
Watch the video…
Your Turn
What is the most important lesson you’d like to teach your kids from the Bible? Please share your thoughts and stories in the comments!
